Machine for making fruit-baskets.



J. E. LYN AM.

MACHINE FOR MAKING FRUIT BASKETS.

APPLICATION IILED NOV. 2,1905.

Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

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J. E. LYN AM.

V MACHINE FOR MAKING FRUIT BASKETS.

APPLICATION IILED NOV. 2, 1905.

Patented Mar. 2, 1909. I

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v 3.1. LYNAM. MACHINE FOR MAKING FRUIT BASKETS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2,1905.

914,358, Patented M312, 1909.

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J. E. LYNAM.

MACHINE FOR MAKING FRUIT BASKETS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2, 1905.

91 4,358. Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

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J. E. LYNAM.

MACHINE FOR MAKING FRUIT BASKETS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2, 1905.

9 1 4;, 358 1 Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

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JOSEPH E. LYNAM, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO J. LYNAM MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF .CALIFORNIA.

MACHINE FOR MAKFN G FRUIT-BASKETS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 2, 1909.

Application filed November 2, 1905. Serial No. 286,513.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn E. LYNAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making Fruit-Baskets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for forming fruit-baskets from veneers of soft wood and binding their tops with metal, after.

the manner of making baskets at the present time to carry grapes and other small fruits to market.

. The object of the inventionis to produce a machine for turning out complete, metalbound baskets in a rapid manner and having the capacity for producing the same in such large quantities that they can be furnished to the consumer at a reasonable cost.

To such end and object chiefly, my invention comprises novel blank-folding means in combination with mechanism for placing and crimping the metal strips on the edges of the formed blanks and with means for feeding or presenting the blanks at regular intervals to the folding means and the metal-binding mechanism; also certain novel construction and combination of blank-slitting devices 0 crating to cut slits for ventilation in the b anks cooperating'with body-forming devices, that automatically bend and form the sides and bottom, and metal-crimping de vices and a rotatable feed-table, producing a 'machine in which the blanks are successively presented to the different devices and mechanism to successively cut the ventilatin r apertures, bend the blanks to shape and bind the edges of the formed basket.

The invention embraces further certain novel parts and combination of parts producing a machine that automatically bends the blanks to shape and fixes a metal binding around the top edges by successive steps or operations that permit one blank or set of blanks after another to be fed in' at regular intervals to the operating mechanism, all as hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

The accompanying drawings herein referred to represent the construction of a machine embodying my said invention, and in which the blanks being introduced at intervals by the workman are bent to shape, and

55 the metal binding applied by the different mechanisms, all actuated from a continually rotating shaft.

Figure 1 is an elevation of the machine taken from the right side where the operator stands to control the work. Fig. 1% 1s a detail of the parts that give movement to the blank-carrier. Fig. 2 is a plan or top-view of the parts that are situated below the horizontal line xx Fig. 1; the head of the stationary frame and all the. parts supported from it over the rotatable blank-carrier being removed above that line. Fig. 3 is a plan of the rotatable blank-carrier, in which the dotted lines indicate one set of blanks in position as they are laced by the Workman who introduces the lanks to the machine at that side of the carrier. Fig. 1 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale, of parts of the rotating mechanism that moves the blankcarrier around intermittently and prevents any backward rotation thereof. Fig. 5 is a sideview of the parts shown in Fig. 4, taken from the right side thereof. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the slitting table, the knives and their op-- erating mechanism. Fig. 7 is a detail of the parts that 0 crate the slitting knives from the principa rotating shaft of the machine. Fig. 8 is a top View of the stationary slitting table under the knives and beneath the blank-carrier. Fig. 9 is a detail of one of the knives in the slitting mechanism. Fig. 10 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the folding mechanism and the platen between which and the former the blanks are gripped and held during the operation of bending them over the former. Fig. 11 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the former, the

metal-crimping jaws, and the mechanism that brings the former into working position and operates the jaws. Fig. 12 is a lan of the former and the crimping jaws. ig. 13 is a detail of the locking device for holding the rotating blank carrier. Fig. 14 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the former, the folding-devices and the crimping-mechanism. Fig. 15 is a detail of the metal strips for the rim of the basket. In the lower. part of the stationary frame a-a the horizontally-set shaft 2, supported inboxes 3, receives continuous motion in one direction from 'a power driven shaft 4, through a gear 5 on one and a pinion 6 on the other. The shaft 4-has a pulley 7 to take a belt from a line-shaft pulley convenient to the machine.

All the moving arts are actuated from the shaft 2, and whi e fthat shaft is always in gear with the driver, provision is made for throwing on or ofi the power at any moment by connecting the shaft 4 with the driving-pulley 7 through the medium of a clutch connected with a pedal-piece, or foot operated rod 8 of any well-known construction. The principal arts actuated from the shaft 2 are, the rotata le carrier f; theknives g; that cut the ventilating slits into the blanks; the parts that bend the blanks and bring them to shape upon the former h, consisting of the swinginxarms k; and the crimping-jaws m which the metal binding-strips on the edges of the basket. The parts above the rotatable-carrier f are supported by the head 5 of the stationary frame that is itself carried by a central post 0 and a curved brace d. The post forms the center of rotation of the carrier f, in which the blanks are placed by a workman in the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. The blanks consist of two strips A-B of rectangular shape and equal dimensions, laid at right angles in the frame across the opening, and by the rotation of the carrier in the direction indicated by the arrow Fig. 4 are brought in succession under the knives to be cut for ventilating ap- 1 ertures w, 'Fi 14, and in position over the former, to ebentand bound with metal.

During the o eration of cutting the slits the carrier is ocked by a rod to engage notches 12 in the central hub 14 of the carrier; and then, as the knives are raised, the carrier is turned on its center, bringing the blanks in position between the stationary platen p and the former h. While the forming and crimping mechanisms are operating, also, the carrier g is stationary; and in these periods of rest t e workman places in position a set of strips in the empty frame of the carrier, and the knives erform their work of cutting the slits in the lanks held in the frame next in advance. v

Every time the carrier comes to rest it is locked, and the blanks in the former are bent to sha e and the edges of the basket are produced by' the mechanism shownin Figs. 2,

4 and 5. The hub 14 of the carrier is fitted to turn loosely on the central post above a horizontal segment-gear 13 also having the same post for a center, and movable thereon witha circular 'reci rocating movement so as to act intermittent y, first in one direction to turn the carrier forward the required distance, and

then back to position for the next movement while the carrier remains at rest. A sliding rack 15 in gear with the toothed-portion of the gear 13 is moved intermittently by means of a cam 16 on the principal shaft 2 and a rocking-lever 17 to which the rack 15 is 0011- nected. The upper end of the lever and the rack 15 are connected by a slot in one and a pin in the other, and the lower end of the lever extending laterally from the center of the levers motion is provided with rollers that engage the rim of the cam 16.

gear 13 engaging lugs 19 on the underside of the hub 14 causes the gear 13 to move the carrier one-third of a complete revolution in every forward stroke of the rack, and to leave the carrier at rest in the return-stroke. In each interval of rest the carrier is locked by a dog 20 loosely pivoted at 21 on the end of a bracket 22 on the stationary frame, with its longer end held up by the tension of a coiled spring 23 so as to stand in the path of the lugs 19. v l

In the normal position of the dog20 it projects in the path of the lugs 19 and will arrest the carrier at the moment a lug strikes the end of the dog; but at the beginning of each rotative movement the do 20 is de )ressed and held out of line with the lug 19, wlth which it is then in engagement, until that lug has moved past its outer end, by the rotation of the collar 14, whereupon it moves back into its normal position ready to engage the succeeding lug. The movement of the segmentgear backwardly" or in one directionsets the pawl 18 behind a lug, and by the reverse movement the gear turns the carrier the required distance, thus conveying the blanks at each turn from one set of mechanism to the next. The pawl 18 at the end of the backward movement of the gear, engages with an A pawl 18- -loosely pivoted on the rim of the segmentincline 24 carried by the dog and is caused to y rotate on its pivot to take a position behind one of the lugs 19. This engagement of the pawl 18 with the incline 24 has the effect to depress and hold down the outer end of the dog during the first portion of the move ment of the gear 13, and until the lug next behind the one engaged by the pawl 18 has assed beyond the outer end of the dog.

his takes place each time the pawl 18 is carried away from the incline 24 at the beginning of the rotary movement of the gear ,but at all other times the dog is held in the path of the lugs and will engage the first one that comes against it as the segment-gear stops The carrier is composed of three frames arranged at equal distance 'around the hub 14, and each one provided with anglebars 25 secured to the four sides of the frame by ears 26 on the back. These bars serve to support at the opposite ends the two strips of veneers AB. Before these strips are presented to the forming-me hanism they are block 55 i raised with an extent of movernent sufli ient to bring the top-plate against the platen 10, thereby clamping the basketstrips AB between those two parts and holding them in position for the folders. to act. Then by the continued upward movement of the lever 56 the inclined sides of the block 55 are forced between the lower ends of the levers 50, with the effect to spread them apart and press the crimping-jaws inward against the metal strips. In this upward movement of the block the spring 60 acts to lift the rod 54 and bring the top-plate of the former it against the platen; but after the resistance to such vertical movement offered by the platen p the block is permitted to slide on the rod under the compression of the spring 60 and spread the levers.

The operation of fixing the metal stri s follows closely u on the movements of t e folders, and as t e latter come to rest and the top-plate 43 .is ressed against the rim of the former-body, t e four jaws simultaneously close with pressure against the metal stri s and immediately open to release the has et. Rollers 49 are provided on the ends of the levers 50 to reduce frictional resistance between the levers and the blocks 55, and the Weight of the former 72, and other parts carried or supported by the rod 54 is counter-balanced by a weight 67 on the outer end of a lever 62 having its inner end 63 extending under the bracket-piece 51 and its fulcrum 64 in a hanger .65 onthe frame between the two ends.

The four' folders k are operated simultaneously from a single cam 66 on the principal shaft by the u right rod 70, an arm 71 fast on the rod, an a cross-head 72 fitted to attached to the head b of the frame.

slide on the rod 10 that carries the laten p. A link 47, pivotally attached to the crosshead at 73, is connected at 7 4 to the folderarm' beyond. the hinge where the arm is Each folder has a roller 11 corresponding in length approximately to the distance across the strip which it presses against the side of the former h. In their normal osition of rest the folders 'stand open, with t eir rollers about on a level with the platen p, as seen in Fig. '10, and from that pointthey close in upon the former as that part is projected through the carrier and raised vertically against the platen By such vertical movement the sides of the blank are first bent down, and their edges are then set into the. metal strilps before the crimping-jaws coiled spring 78 into engagement with the notches 12 in the standing-ring 14 on the rotary carrier. At every upward throw of the arm a stop 79 projecting from the arm strikes a collar 80 on the rod and lifts the lower end of the rod out of the notch 12, thereby unlocking the rotary carrier at the same time that the folders are opened. The return movement of the former thereupon takes place, and as it passes below the plane of the rotary carrier f, the latter makes another turn on'its center to bring another blank into position. The work of placing the blanks in the rotary carrier is done by one person standing in front of that frame or section of the carrier which is situated at the left side of the machine, the intervals of rest in the rotation of the carrier giving time for setting the blanks. At the same time a second workman introduces the V-shaped metal strips between the former-body and the crimping-jaws, after the finished basket has been removed and the former is at rest below the lane of the carrier. From his position at t e front of the machine this second operator is able to give his attention tothe person feeding the blanks and to the slitting-mechanism, as Well as to the parts that operate to form the basket and apply the metal rim.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A basket-forming machine comprising in combination the following elements :-a rotary carrier having three skeleton frames arranged equi-distant about its center of rotation, and supports thereon to carry the edges of the blanks; a slitting-device operating to form slits in the blanks within the ,edges thereof; a former corresponding to jected through the carrier for taking the 1 blanks therefrom; a platen above the plane of the carrier, against which the blanks are held by the .former means operating to bendthe blanks over the former; and

crimping-device, operating to fix metal strips upon the edges of the formed blank by former and the crimping-device.

2. In a basket-forming machine, an'intermittently rotating blank-carrier; a slittingdevice operating to form ventilating-slits in the blank; and a basket-forming mechanism, comprising a vertically movable former having the shape of the inverted basket,

means for alternately projecting" said former through and lowering it below the carrier, .folding-ddvices operatingto bend the blanks upon the former a stationary platen against which the blanks areheld during the bending operation, and a crimpingdevice having alternate movement toward pressing the strips between the sides of the and away from the sides of the former, 0 crating to fix metal strips upon the edges of the bent blank by compression.

3. In a basket-forming machine, bination, an intermittently acting slitting de vice; a vertically movable former, corresponding in shape to the inverted basket and having a fiat top; a platen above the former, against which the top of the former brought in contact and held during the operation of bending the blanks; a folding-device operating to bend the blanks over the former; and an intermittently rotating blank-carrier having a plurality of openings over which the blanks are laid in position, means for rotating said carrier to bring the blanks in succession under the slittingdevice, and in position over the former in every rotation of the carrier; and means for operating the cutting-device and the blank folding-device in the intervals of rest between the movements of the carrier.

4. A basket-forming machine having a vertically movable former, a stationary platen above the former? and with which the top of the former is brought in contact to hold the blanks in its upward movement, folding-devices for bending the blanks over the former and an intermittently rotatable carrier provided with openings and means for holding the blanks in place over the openings, said carrier being rotatable in a plane perpendicular to the direction in which the former moves, means for rotating the carrier in the intervals of rest between the movements of the folding-device, and a locking-device operating to prevent the carrierfrom turningduring the operation of the folding-device.

, 5. A basket-forming machine having a vertically movable former a blank-carrier intermittently rotatable in a plane perpendicular to the travel of the former and provided with openings through which the former is projected While the carrier is at rest and means for holding the blanks in position over said openings, a stationary platen situated above the plane of rotation of the carrier,-a folding-device to bend the blanks over the ,former, and means for l with a yielding-top; a platen situated over locking the carrier durin the operation of the folding-device in the e evated position of the former and for releasing it after the former has returned to position below the carrier.

6. A basket-forming machine having a vertically-movable former provided with a yielding top, a blank-carrier rotatable'in a plane perpendicular to the travel of the former and provided with openings through which the former. is adapted to project in its upward movement, means for iolding the blanks in position across the said o enings, a stationary platen situated above t, e plane of the carrier for the purpose of I vertically movable former provided with holding the middle portion of the blanks against the top of the former and leaving the end-portions free, folding-devices for in com i bending the free portions of the blanks over the sides of the former and means for producing vertical movement of the former clamp the blanks upon the top I former, leaving the end-portions thereof the sides of the "former after the contact of the blanks with the stationary platen.

7. A basket-forming machine having a a yielding top, a stationary platen sup orted over the former, means for introducing the blanks in position between the platen and the top of the former, means for bringing the former in contact with the laten for the pur ose of clamping the midd e ortion of the blank between said parts and eaving the ends free, folding-devices operating to close against the sides of the former, and means for pressing the former upward after the folding-devices are closed, whereby there is a relative movement of the folded blank and the former and the edges of the blank are exposed beyond the former.

8. A basket-forming machine haying a vertically movable former provided with a yielding top, a platen supplorted above the yielding top and coacting t erewith to hold the middle portion of the blank against the yielding top and leave the end-portions thereof free, folding-devices adapted to close upon the sides'of the former, and means for moving the former upward between the closed folding-devices after the blanks are confined between the platen and the yielding-top of the forlner.

9. A basket forming machine having a vertically movable former provided with a yielding top, a platen supported above the yieldingtop and co-acting therewith to hold the middle portion of the blanks against the yielding top and leave the end portions thereof free, folding devices adapted to close upon the sides of the former, means for moving the former upward after the folding devices have operated, and means for binding the edges of the blanksafter the basket is formed.

10. A basket-forming machine having an intermittently movable former provided theyielding-top and coacting therewith to of the free; folding-devices adapted to close upon bend the free ends of the blanks by an upward movement of the former between said folding devices; a crimping device adapted to fix a metal rim on the edges of the folded portions of the blank, comprising crimping-bars intersecting each other at the adjacent angles and surrounding the lower rim of the former, means for simultaneously moving said bars toward the and operating to former and a support for the metal strips composing the rim to hold the same in position between the sides of the formerand the crimping bars.

1 1. In a basket-forming machine, the combination of an intermittently movable former a stationary platen against which the former is ressed to clamp the blanks; an intermittent y rotatable blank carrier movable in a plane between the former and the platen and provided with openings through which the former is moved to make contact with the platen, and means for loosely supporting the blanks across said 0 enings; a folding-device adapted to bend tfie blanks over the sides of the former in the upward movement of the former between said folding-devices; a crimping-device surrounding the lower edge of the former and movable vertically with the former a support for a metal rim beneath the edges of the folded blank to hold the same between the sides of the former and the crimping-device; and means for successively actuating the folding-device and the crimping-device.

12. In a basket-forming machine an inter mittently moving former having a yielding top-plate, in combination with an intermittently rotating blank-carrier movable in a plane at right angles to the movement of the former and provided with openings through which the top of the former is adapted to pass, a platen situated above the plane of the rotating blank-carrier and operating by the contact of the top of the former therewith to hold the mlddle portion of the blanks upon the top of the former and leave the end-portions thereof free, folders for shaping the blanks against the former, and means for causing the movement .of the top plate relative to the former, while the blank is held between the top and the former and after the folders have operated.

13. In a blank-forming machine a stationary platen, in combination with a former movable in a right line perpendicular to the face of the platen and provlded with a yielding top-plate to contact with the platen, means for bringing the former against the platen to confine the blanksin position across the top of the ,former, means for bending the projecting end-portions of the blanks over the'sides of the former, a sup ort for the metal strips to form the rim of t e basket, means operating to move the former with increased force against ,the platen and thereby depress the yielding toplate sufficiently to set the edges of the blan s into the metalstrips, and a crimping-device operating to compress the metal strips upon the edgesof the blanks.

' 14. In a basket-forming machine-incombination with adriving-shaft, a-platen,

former movable in a right line perpen- I dicular to the face of the platen and provided with a yielding toplate, means for periodically introducmg t e blanks between the platen and the former, means for setting the former in contact with the "platen to hold the blanks against the top of the former, folding devicesoperating to bend the free ends of the blanksover the former and connections with the driving shaft independent of the former-operating means for operating the said folding devices.

15.]The combination of the stationary platen, a former movable at right angles to the platen, means for setting the former 30 against the platen and afterward imparting an additional movement in the same direction, a blank-folding device operating to close upon the sides of the former crimping-jaws operating to close against the sides 5 of the former, and means for supporting a metal rim in an uncrimped state between the former and the crimping-jaws.

16. The combination with a former of crimping-jaws having intersecting end-por- 9o tions, a vertically-movable bracketiece, levers pivotally-attached to the brac et-piece and 'iaving the crimping-jaws attached to their ends, means for operating the former,

means for closing the crimping-jaws thereon,

a cam, and means operatively connecting the bracket piece with the cam to impart vertical movement to the bracket-piece.

17. The combination with the verticallymovable former, of a crimping-frame hav- 10o ing straight bars with slotted interlocking end-portions, the adjacent ends of said bars being fitted'to slide upon each other in planes at right angles to each other, a verticallymovable bracket-piece, levers'carried therethe blanks upon the former after they are taken from the said carrier, blank-slitting means located in advance of the'position occupied by the former and adapted to cut slits 1n the blanks while they are held on the carrier and before they are presentedto' the fformer by the rotative movement of the carrier.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand hereto 1n the presence of-two subscrlblngwitnesses. I v

' JOSEPH- LYN AM.-

Witnesses: I v

GEO. D. SMITH, v C-HsRLEs CLARK. 

